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Suited Up: Contemporary Armor

Making in Texas

SUMMER 2021 MAIN GALLERY

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Suited Up: Contemporary Armor Making in Texas explores the extraordinary craftsmanship of armorers, hailing from diverse communities across the Lone Star State. Featuring everything from traditional metalwork and leatherwork to 3D-printed and innovative do-it-yourself suits, the exhibition highlights artists who have kept this age-old practice alive and evolving into the 21st century. This group of makers has added several modern chapters to the ancient histories of armor making. The cosplay community celebrates making and wearing costumes worn by favorite characters from movies, shows, books, and video games. Others create custom-made armor to use in live-action battles or to participate in the immersive experiences of historically inspired settings like the Texas Renaissance Festival. Creating well designed and wearable handmade attire is an integral component of each armorer's practice. The artists shown here hone their skills by learning from each other—at conferences, festivals, and, in recent years, online live-streaming platforms, such as Twitch. They also learn from wearing their own creations to gain a deeper understanding of the wearability of their suits, allowing them to select comfortable and durable materials that they repurpose and improve over time.

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Suited Up celebrates the timelessness of armor making as it sparks curiosity and wonder by bringing different realms of fantasy into physical form. Explore the displays to learn more about the artists’ design and fabrication processes.

To learn more about the exhibition, please visit crafthouston.org/exhibition/suited-up-contemporary-armor-making-in-texas. #SuitedUp @crafthouston

Suited Up: Contemporary Armor Making in Texas explora la extraordinaria artesanía de los armeros, provenientes de diversas comunidades en todo el estado de la estrella solitaria. Con todo, desde trabajos en metal y cuero tradicionales hasta trajes de bricolaje innovadores e impresos en 3D, la exposición destaca a los artistas que han mantenido viva esta práctica ancestral y evolucionando hacia el siglo XXI. Este grupo de fabricantes ha agregado varios capítulos modernos a las historias antiguas de la fabricación de armaduras. La comunidad de cosplay celebra la

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confección y el uso de disfraces usados por personajes favoritos de películas, programas, libros y videojuegos. Otros crean armaduras a la medida para usar en batallas de acción en vivo o para participar en las experiencias inmersivas de escenarios de inspiración histórica como el Festival del Renacimiento de Texas. Crear un atuendo hecho a mano bien diseñado y ponible es un componente integral de la práctica de cada armero. Los artistas que se muestran aquí perfeccionan sus habilidades aprendiendo unos de otros en conferencias, festivales y, en los últimos años, en plataformas de transmisión en vivo en línea, como Twitch. También aprenden de usar sus propias creaciones para obtener una comprensión más profunda del uso y desgaste de sus trajes, lo que les permite seleccionar materiales cómodos y duraderos que reutilizan y mejoran con el tiempo. Suited Up celebra la atemporalidad de la fabricación de armaduras, ya que despierta la curiosidad y el asombro al dar forma física a diferentes reinos de fantasía. Explora las exhibiciones para obtener más información sobre los procesos de diseño y fabricación de los artistas.

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Para obtener más información sobre la exposición, visita crafthouston.org/exhibition/suited-up-contemporary-armor-making-in-texas.

Videos courtesy of: Joseph Owens of Hybrid-Tide Productions (@hy_tide) and Nyvedna Productions (@nyvednaproductions) MineralBlu (@mineralblu) and Lutavia Cosplay (@lutaviacosplay) Sydney Clark and Michael Lane Jesse Santiago (subtlelifephotography) and JAFantasyArt Chuck Dorsett (Portions of footage featuring Weaver Leather Supply and Chuck Dorsett are owned by Weaver Leather Supply) Jorge and Jordan (@jorgeandjordan) and Xephyr Studios (@xephyrstudios)

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Xephyr Studios (Houston, Texas) Moira, 2020 PLA plastic, EVA foam, resin, fabric, LED lights Courtesy of the artist Left to right: Xephyr Studios (Houston, Texas) Process of Finishing 3D Prints for Zagreus’ Stygian Blade (Hades), 2021 Digital rendering, PLA plastic, resin, acrylic paint Courtesy of the artist Stage 1: 3D model Stage 2: Raw 3D print Stage 3: Finished print, polished smooth and painted, ready for molding

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Stage 4: Silicone mold Stage 5: Resin casts Michael Lane (San Antonio, Texas) SCA Helmet (collaboration with Ben Lee), 1977 Steel, leather, fabric Courtesy of the artist Helmet Steel Courtesy of the artist Medieval COVID Mask, 2020 Steel and leather Courtesy of the artist Coif Steel Courtesy of the artist

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Gorget Steel and leather Courtesy of the artist Pauldrons 16-gauge steel and leather Courtesy of the artist Michael Lane (San Antonio, Texas) Chainmail, 1991 Aluminum high tension line cable Courtesy of the artist

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Center of room, clockwise from left to right: MICHAEL LANE (San Antonio, Texas)

1 Half Gauntlets Steel Courtesy of the artist 2 Period Style Arms, 1987 Repurposed steel barrel and leather Courtesy of the artist

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3 Arms, 2017 Steel Courtesy of the artist 4 Sabatons Steel and leather Courtesy of the artist 5 Full Gauntlets Steel and leather Courtesy of the artist 6 Legs Steel and leather Courtesy of the artist Michael Lane (San Antonio, Texas) Suit of Armor Courtesy of the artist

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Left to right: Asgardian Armory (Missouri City, Texas) Process Piece with Finished Bracers, 2021 Leather and pigment Courtesy of the artist Celtic Shield, 2021 Leather, wood, fur, metal, pigment Courtesy of the artist Female Warrior Armor, 2020 Leather, fur, pigment Courtesy of the artist Asgardian Armory (Missouri City, Texas) Dwarf Armor with Axe and Bag, 2019 Leather and metal Courtesy of the artist

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Left to right: Chuck Dorsett (Hoschton, Georgia) Morning Glory, 2019 Leather Courtesy of the artist Armour of the Eastern Hedge Knight, 2013 Leather Courtesy of the artist Center: Chuck Dorsett (Hoschton, Georgia) Hastings, 2018 Leather Courtesy of the artist

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Left to right: Lutavia Cosplay (Houston, Texas) Great Lord Dimitri (Fire Emblem: Three Houses), 2019 Armor modeled by Dangerous Ladies, lance modeled by paf3d, 3D prints printed by Habiteer Workshop, faux fur, velvet, faux leather, acrylic, spray paint, airbrush paint Courtesy of the artist Berserker Charlotte (Fire Emblem: Fates), 2019 Modeled by Dangerous Ladies, 3D prints, metal coating, jacquard, silk, faux fur, faux leather, faux suede, faux pearls Courtesy of the artist Shieldmaiden Brigitte, 2019 Modeled by Obsydiann3D, 3D prints printed by Habiteer Workshop, cloth, faux fur, faux leather, faux suede, plexiglass, LED lights Courtesy of Derek Seewald

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Left to right: Rev’s Armour Werx (Temple, Texas) Suit of Baby Armour: Greaves Set, Arm Bracers Set, Pauldrons, Cuirass, 2021 3.5 oz. finished split black leather Courtesy of the artist Suit of Leather Armour: Crown, Saddle Skirting Cuirass, Quad Pauldrons, Arm Armour Set, Tassetts Set, Greaves Set, Arm Bracers Set, Knight’s Belt, 2021 9 oz. saddle skirting leather, cut, tooled, molded, dyed Courtesy of the artist Left to right:

Nyvedna Productions (Houston, Texas)

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Dora Milaje Armor, 2018 Bodysuit and Leggings: digitally-designed and printed fabric Armor: worbla and paint; harness: hand-stitched upholstery pleather Belt: laser-cut wood made in collaboration with Chaos Costumes Arm Bracers, Calf Bracers, and Neck Armor: felt, silver-leather cording Silver Necklace: worbla cones, silver-plated beads Beaded Tabard: beading, beading felt, pleather, bronze studs Red and Yellow Neckpiece: beading, beaded felt, velcro Ankle Bracelets: beading, beaded felt, velcro, elastic wrap Courtesy of the artist Shuri Armor, 2018 Bodysuit: digitally-designed and printed performance stretch fabric and vinyl decals Skirt: hand-stamped upholstery fabric and D-rings Belt Buckle: 2 mm EVA foam; Neck Piece: EVA black low-density foam, mini earth magnets, plastic Arm Bands: pleather, stretch fabric, rubber tunes, snap magnet, elastic Gauntlets by RandMaskEnterprises

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Courtesy of the artist Left to right: JAFantasyArt (San Antonio, Texas) Copper Dragon Hunter Headdress, 2013 - 2016 Leather and feathers Courtesy of the artist Monster Hunter-Inspired Nakarkos Bone Headdress, 2018 Leather Courtesy of the artist Copper Dragon Hunter Helmet, 2013 - 2016 Leather Courtesy of the artist Copper Dragon Hunter Gauntlets, 2013 - 2016 Leather Courtesy of the artist

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JAFantasyArt (San Antonio, Texas) Copper Dragon Hunter Armor, 2013 - 2016 Leather and suede Courtesy of the artist Center: JAFANTASYART (San Antonio, Texas) Monster Hunter-Inspired Nakarkos Bone Armor, 2018 Leather, EVA foam, PLA, thermoplastic Courtesy of the artist